Legoyda: Church seizures – leitmotif of Ukrainian presidential campaign

Владимир Легойда назвал беспрецедентными захваты храмов в период предвыборной кампании в Украине

The takeovers of churches during the presidential campaign in Ukraine have become unprecedented, according to Vladimir Legoyda, the head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations, reports Patriarchia.ru.


"A situation where religious rights are being violated during the presidential campaign with the silent consent of the authorities, including the takeovers of churches by a group of radicals encouraged by the authorities, is totally unthinkable for European political and legal reality," the religion scholar stressed.

"There is no doubt that the current Ukrainian administration's rule will be remembered for decades to come because of the encouragement of brother-hating, church takeovers, and the suffering of innocent believers, not because of magic rituals involving a piece of paper called a tomos brightly colored by Greek handymen," he said.

He called on "those Ukrainian figures who think they are those who fancy themselves creators and destroyers of churches to stop and think about the results the behavior of a bull in a china shop can have".

Earlier, the political consultant Sergey Gaidai said that the advertising campaign with the Tomos uses the same scheme as professional illusionists – distraction.

Read also

OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies

According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.

AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC

An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.

UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral

Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.

UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine

Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.

Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty

The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.

Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.